AN ARABIAN DANCE TREND

The Dabke is a traditional folk dance performed in the Levant region — Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and northern Saudi Arabia. The dance has been around since the 1800s. However, the Internet took notice of the dance form only recently, and has churned out its own quirky versions, creating the #DabkeChallenge. The way it is performed may remind you of the age-old

‘Ring a Ring o’ Roses’ nursery rhyme. Groups of people stand in lines or a circle formation, and link arms or hold hands. The leader of the line switches between facing the audience and the other dancers. It is usually performed at weddings and big social gatherings. Houses in the Levant were built with stone whereas the roof was made of straw, wood, and dirt. In an attempt to compact the dirt roof, people stomped down on the dirt. The Dabke was originally a simple trick to ease this task and make it fun. The Dabke dance was given interesting twists and has become the dance without which parties are incomplete. It transformed into the #DabkeChallenge when a group of Lebanese men in Australia decided to take the dance form a notch higher (literally!) by climbing up the wall while performing it. The dance has been performed in the past to mark various events and festivals in the UAE. Along side henna and dates, malls and landmarks have featured a variety of heritage-based entertainment acts and Arabic dances such as Ayala, Tannoura and Dabke to celebrate occasions such as the Eid Al Adha and the National Day.